Locking device for switches.



H. G. FRENCH. OOKING DEVICE FOR FSWITCHBS.

IPLIGATION TILED JUNE 22.1912.

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Patented Dec. 1

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H. G. FRENCH.

UKING DEVICE FOR SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22,19l2,

Patented Dec. 1

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HEHESJY G. FRENCH, O SCHEITECTiiB-Y, YQRK, ASSIGNUR T0 'GEHERAL ELECTIBHG I CUMPANY, A CQREGRATIQN OF NEW YORK.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR SJVITCI-IES.

. Be it known that 1, Horses: G. FRENCH, s citizen of the United States, residing at Schehectedy, county of Schenectady, State of NeWYork, have inve'nted certain new and useful. improvements in Locking Devices for Switches,of which the following is s specification...- 1.

My. invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to locking devices for preventing occidental opening of electric switches.

' current caused by a severe short circuit end Some forms of electric switches porticnlarly disconnecting switches or" the l tnite blade type, are usually operated by means ct -21 wooden operating rod which has on one when opened in this manner may cause considcrcble damage by arcing. DlSCOllDGC'iHlg switches should therefore be provided with a locking device for preventing accidental j opening. Spring pressed latches for holding the switch closed have been proposed, but

great difiicnltyis encountered in using the wooden operating rod to hold a spring pressed latch of the ordinary type ontof the way of the switch blade and also at the some time to move the switch hlside. Disconnect- 2 switch blade in a predetern' inedrelation to n the contact jaws; which will prevent ec'c1 ing switches are often so mounted that the blade swings from s e horizontal position downward into it jaw contact when the switch is to he closed When such is switch is open the blade tends to swing downward by its own we i ht and some holding means or stop should e provided which will prevent accidents closing of the switch by the weight of-the blade but which-con easily be moved out of the way by the operating rod.

The object of my invention is to p-covide for. electric switches, pcrticulerly disconnecting switches of the knife blade type,- c holding device which will stop and hold the dental closingof the switch; which will sutonmtically lock the switch closed and thereby prevent accidental opening of it; which can easily be set by means of the operating rod in a position to permit the blade to move Specification of Letters Extent.

Application filed l'une 222, 1913. Serial Kc. M75185.

or the switch to open and will remain set end switch blade;- which automatically returns,

to normal or latching position before this it; which can be applied to any standard disconnecting sviitch, without requiring changes n the jew contacts or insulators; end which i in general in many details hereinafter more "fully set forth, an improvement in de vices of this. character.

My invention will best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawing, which shows merely for illnstrationsoine of the various forms in which my invention may be embodied end in which- Figure]. is a side v1ew in elevation of e 155 not interrere with the movement ofg the knife blade disconnecting switch with a. lockingdevice embodying my invention applied to it; Fl. 2 is a cross section on the line a-a through-the blade of the disconnecting switch showing the lockingdevicein elevetion in the locking position; Fig. 3 is e;

sectional "view along the same line showing the locking device set in o. releasing posltion to permit the switch to open without hihdrance' en'clwith the switch blade moved a nslight extent'in a direction to 0 en. the switch; Fig. 4 is e. modified form or my invention shown in posit-ion to hold the switch closed; Fig. 5 is s view-0t the some modification in a position to permit the switch to open; Fig. (Sis o side view of a modification for preventing occidental closing of a switch such es s. double throw switch; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is c sectional view along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 end Fig. I some line with some of the release the blade.-

The disconnecting switch shown in the po-r ts moved to drawing is mounted upon suitable insulatorsand comprises e jaw contact 2 mounted on one, insulstor, e jaw contact 3 mounted on the-sother ihsnletor, and a blade pivoted in the jaw 3 to cocperote with the other jaw 2.

The blade 1, basin one end an eye 5' in which I thejhookon the end of the wooden operating rod is inserted when the operator desires to open or close tneswitcn.

ln sceordance with my invention so one .bodiedin- Figs, *l,"f3 accidentalopen 9,39. a sectional view along the.

- preferably on the support out from between the latches they come to gether and are ready to catch and lock the blade the next time the switch is closed.

Figs. l and 5 show :1 modified form of a device embodying my invention Fig. l showing the switch locked in the closed position, and 5 showing the parts in position to permit the switch to be opened, the operating rod being hooked in the eye 5 to pull the s *itch blade l out of the c 2. In this modification the support lllhas pivoted to it a spring pressed latch 16 for hold ing the switch closed. This latch is pro vided with a hook or log 1'! for catching and holding a pin 18 on theswitch blade 4 and thereby locking the switch closed. The latch is pivoted to swing in a plane parallel the plane oi movement of the blade 4: and is yieldingly held in either the locking position shown in Fig. l or in the releasing positlcn shown in Fig. 5 by a coil spring 19,

which has one end attached to the support 10 at the point 20 and the other end attached,

to the latch 16 at the point 21. The points 20 end 21ers so related to the pivot of the latch 16 that when the letch'is in the position shown in Fig. 4 the spring 129 is above the pivot and is tending; to hold the latch in the closed position, but when the latch is in the position shown in 5 the spring 19 is below the pivot of the latch and tends to hold the latch the position shown. The latch is prevented from mov ing upward beyond the position shown in Fig. l by some suitable stop or shoulder, 10. When the switch is open, the latch is normally the latching pOSltl0'.., as shown in Fig. i, ready to catch the pin 18 and hold the switch closed. As the switch is} closed the pin 18 engages extension 22 on the latch and thereby-forces the latch down for enough to permit the switch to close, but not L's-r enough to throw the spring 19 below the pivot of the latch. When the switch is hilly closed. the latch is snapped up into position behind the pin 18 by the action of the spring 19. hen the switch is to be opened, the latch 16 may be moved out of the way by pressing down on the latch "with the operating rod until the spring '19 passes below the pivot of the latch, whereupon -c1sprii1g 19 holds the latch in the position shown. in Fig. 5. The latch is now out of the way end the switch is free to open. in order to make sure that the latch is automatically returned to latching position without attention or care on the part of the operator, 1 provid some means by which the latch is autommicelly thrown back into latching position 1 y the movement of the switch blade. Various arrangements may bensed for automat cally throwing the latch back into latchingosia tion after the pin 18 is out of reach oi the latch. buttbe preferred construction is that shown, in which a resetting extension 23.011

-the latch is so shaped that when the latch shown in Fig. l, and the latch is ready to catch and hold the blade l asscon as the switch is closed. By the time the latch is lifted into latching position by the extension 23 the pin 18 is entirely out of reach of the latch, which cannot hinder further move ment of the switch blade. The latch may .i'or some ressonremain in the position shown in Fig. 5 after the switch has opened. In order to positively force the latch into the latching position by the closing; movement of the switch, I provide, on the ester sion 23, a secondary resettingsnrface 25 in position to be struck by the pin 18 as the switch is closed by the wooden operating rod 26,. This secondary resetting surface is so proportioned that the pin 18 will positiyely lift the latch into the latching position as the switch blade goes into the clip 2, so that the latch is sure to catch and hold the pin 18 when the switch is fully closed."

By means of a. locking device'embodying my invention the switch is firmly loclse accidental open'ng; at the some time the locking device may easily be set in a releasing; position which it 'ofiers no bin-- dreams to the, opening of the switch; and

before the switch is again closed the locking device automatically resumes, the normal po-- sition in w ichit is free to catch and retain the switch lade when the switch is again closed.

A desirable embodiment of my invention' is a form of device for stopping the blade of the switch in any predetermined position insuch a. manner that by a simple manipulation with'the operating red, the switch blcdc can sition. This form ell holding device mayib ,5 applied to disconnecting switches in which the blade is horizontal when the switch is,

open and 'moves downward to close the switch, as for example ir -vert1cal double .115 be released and moved on. into another pow! inner a 1 a 6 r a 8 1, r mums 5 e 'liscnnnec' z 0 he low-e1." is so memuiea on as tentlonaily move" ing rod an.

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B w v y i l I... r] .T... F 1Q .WH 6 a n V w 1 switch I7 p. at) 1th the upper L b. e 15; moved on,

ment of t en'wnt with he stop off 15 upward movement of aHy swings on We art1: ,l.

11m vim 'agement v mm form of doub ch is well 1 Lk'h blad en." o'wnw a rd.

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automatic In the 11-01 shown.

in a center clip m1 111% (1 jfin. 11-ect1ng SWM eleased fro 1e is me the 'lm'ver W 10nd nit-aces the 31 apart and through between them with comparatively slight resistance. in all cases the holding members 36 automaticall swing into the normal holding position as soon as the blade passes from between them.

My invention may be embodied in many other forms than those described and therefore I do not wish to limit myself to the precise arrangement disclosed but aim in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the United States, is,i

l. A holding device for switches comprising a holding member yielding'ly biased when in normal position to lock the switch, means operative upon movement of said holding member into its releasing position to restrain said holding member in said releasing position while the switch is still closed, and means controlled by the switch for antomatically returning said holding member from releasing position to normal position prior to the closing of the switch. I .2. A locking device for electric svitches comprising a spring pressed latch normally in position to engage a movable member of the-switch, restraining means for said latch rendered operative by movement of said latch into releasing position to restrain said latch in said releasing position while the switch is still closed, and means whereby the movable member of the switch automaticallv controls the return of-said latch to normall position.

3, A locking device for electric switches comprising a latch biased when iii-normal position to lock the switch closed, restraining' means rendered operative to hold said latch in releasing position by movement of .said latch from normal position to releasing position and means actuated by the opening movement of the switch for automatically returning the latch to normal position.

a. locking cevice for switches comprising a latch biased to locking position, and restraining means rendered operative by movement oi latch into releasing position to hold said latch in releasing position as long as the movable member of the switch is in engagement with said latch.

I 5. 'A locking device for switches comprising .atch biased to locking position, and. a pawl pivotally mounted on said 'latch and biased to move "ito position to catch and hold said latch when said latch is moved into releasing position. said latch being held in releasingpo ition by pawl while the movable n i said switch still. in closed position.

6. A locking device for switches comprisn' aatch ivotaii mounted in pr. ition to switch, paw said latch,

pivot-ally mounted stopping said pawl in position to hold said latch in releasing position, and a spring for yieldingly forcing said pawl toward said shoulder and said latch toward latching position.

7. In an electric switch, the combination with amovable switch member, of a locking device comprising latch normally biased to lock said member, restraining means 00- operating with said latch and said member and operative by movement of said latch to restrain said latch in releasing position while theswitch is closed, and means for returning said latch automatically to normal position prior to the closing of the switch.

8. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable switch member, of a looking device comprising a latch for said member, restraining means rendered operative by movement of said. latch into releasing position while the switch is closed to hold said latch in releasing position, and means controlled by said switch member for auto matically returning said latch to latching position as said member is moved to open the switch.

9. In an electric switch, the combination with a. movable switch member, of a locking device comprising a latch operative when in normal position to lock said. member in switch closing; position,means cooperating with said latch to restain it in inoperative position when moved into said inoperative position while the switch is closed, and means controlled by said switch member and cooperating with said latch to automatically return said latch to operative position during, the opening of the switch.

10. in an electric switch the combination with a movable switch blade, of a locking device comprising a latch normally biased to engage said blade, a pawl pivoted onsaid latch with its end projecting into the path of said blade when the latch is in normal position, and means for yieldingly forcing said pawl into position to bring its end against the side of said blade when said latch is moved into releasing position, whereby said pawl holds said latch in releasing position.

11. In an electric switch, the combination with movable switch blade, of a locking device comprising two latches mounted on a common pivot and, biased to move toward each other to engage opposite sides ofsaid blade, and a pawl mounted on each latch near said pivot with its end projecting into the path of movement of said blade and biased to move away from said pivot along the side of said blade when either of said latches is moved into releasing position by said latches are held in releasing position while the switch is closed.

12. A loclang device for switches com-1 a latch 13c prising asapporthavmg a recess,

pivoted to said suppose a one of recess, a pawl pivoted f inch es e point adjacent said recess to, Wltend toward pivot of said latch, said latch having" a shoulder to limit movement of said pawl away from said recess, and e.- compression spring mounfied in said recess to engage said pawl between its pivot and the pivot of said latch and thereby force said pawl toward the shoulder on the latch and said latch toward latching posi'zion,

13. A device for holding a switch blade in a predetermined posiiion, comprising arm pivoted to swing in n path lemme" to the path of the switch blade end to move toward said blade, and a resereim ing member pivoted on arm to project into the path of the blade and to have a limited movement relative to said arm in she same direction. as said blade, said. momber being biased fee-move toward said blade when said'blade is in its predetermined :posi tion. I v

14-. A. device foe-holdinge switch in a pi'edeeermieed posiihlon, compi'ising'a holding; me mounted i0 move in e path transverse to the path the switch blade and yieldi ngly biased iZO lmove toward the blade into beldio'" position, and e, resuming member mo. bly modified on hold iiw 13 blade *zion to said holding member in the same direction as said blade, sold restralmng member being blosed to move toward said bl c means cooperating with said blade and said holding member when said blide is in said predetermined position to automatically restrain said holding member when it is moved into position to releese said blade and to hold said member'm' ireleasmg posltlon until SL1 1 blade is moved out of said predetermined position,

and means for returningsaid member aulaometicell r to normal position efizex' said Toledo is removed.

in WlliJflESS whereof.v have breunto set my handehis 91st day 0o; June, 1912.

Y f frllilllifff G. FRENCH-i Witnesses ifimwzmme l8. HULL,

member io project into the path of the 111d to hove e limited movement relay blade out of said position, restraining 

